Monday, April 11, 2011

SuperPhillip's Favorite VGMs - 700th VGM Edition

We've arrived at the 700th VGM. It's been a long ride, and we're just getting started. In this week's star-studded edition we have music from Katamari Damacy, Star Ocean: The Second Story, and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Let's get to it!v696. Katamari Damacy - Family Damacy

Katamari Damacy was an innovative title for its time. Against the creator's wish, more sequels were made. While enjoyable, you can tell the series has been buried into the ground thanks to Namco's efforts. The wallpaper shown is actually from Me and My Katamari, a PSP iteration of Katamari. Family Damacy is a theme performed by a young child. It is used during cutscenes within Katamari Damacy and probably one of the sequels. Did you ever get into the Katamari franchise, and if so, which was your favorite? I love the original the best.

'G' has no relation to the 'G' in the House of the Dead: Overkill. Instead, Resident Evil 2's 'G' is a bioweapon that knows no surrender. It just keeps coming back, again and again. By the final showdown, you've faced 'G' five times total. Now that's determination. Too bad Leon's shotgun said otherwise, huh? The Darkside Chronicles was loaded (like Leon's shotgun) with content from secret case files to character and monster data. By no means an awful game, I think Wii owners just wanted another Resident Evil 4-like game for the system. Regardless, I'm glad Capcom took this route even though it was the unpopular one.

Cowboy Bebop: Tsuioku no Yakyoku was a Japanese-only PlayStation 2 game. My favorite composer in the universe, Yoko Kanno, wrote three new tracks specifically for the game. We've already heard two of them (Diamonds and Pearls, respectively), so let's finally complete the trifecta with Einstein Groovin' which borrows the motif of Diamonds at the very beginning. It's performed by Ilaria Graziano who sings all three songs. She also is one of Kanno's go-to singers for her various anime soundtracks from Cowboy Bebop to Wolf's Rain to Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. She's got the goods as does always Mrs. Kanno.

This song comes from the Star Ocean: The Second Story Arranged CD. It's actually several themes in one.. I loved getting to relive The Second Story in the PSP's remake, Star Ocean: Second Evolution. The remake introduced voice acting during scenes instead of just text, introduced new voice actors, and also new anime cutscenes. Gameplay-wise, everything remained unchanged. Star Ocean: The Second Story remains one of my favorite JRPGs of all time.

Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla was the first level featuring Bowser Jr. in Super Mario Galaxy 2. It was also the last galaxy of the first set of levels. It featured lava, thwomps, whomps, and castle-like setting. The music is particularly catchy. The strings carry the rhythm of the track. While not a favorite galaxy of mine, Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla is a decent galaxy with plenty of sights to see, enemies to combat, and obstacles to overcome.

From SuperPhillip Central this is DJ SuperPhillip bidding you a fond farewell. Until next week we'll see you!